Dive-site story
Rice Bowl Wreck is the popular local name for a World War II Japanese cargo ship sunk in Usukan Bay off the coast of northern Sabah. The vessel earned its nickname from the charred sacks of rice preserved inside the cargo holds after being torpedoed. The hull rests upright on a silty seabed, heavily encrusted with black coral bushes, sea fans, and soft corals that shelter schooling pelagics and macro critters.
Well-preserved Japanese WWII cargo ship resting upright on the seabed
Remnants of historical cargo visible within the open cargo holds
Dense clusters of black coral trees and soft corals covering the superstructure
Schools of predatory fish patrolling above the hull
Location
Use the map to plan with your operator and confirm the exact entry point on the day.
Seasonality
The calmest seas and best water clarity occur outside the northeast monsoon period.
Marine life
| Species | Likelihood | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevron BarracudaSphyraena qenie | Common | ||||||||||||
| Tall-fin BatfishPlatax teira | Common | ||||||||||||
| Giant TrevallyCaranx ignobilis | Common | ||||||||||||
| Giant GrouperEpinephelus lanceolatus | Rare | ||||||||||||
| LionfishPterois volitans | Common |
Marine forecast
